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No. 7I3,73I. Patented Nov. I8, |902.

A. M. ALLEN.

VLOCIPEDE.

(Application led June 16, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IlnTTnn STATES ARTHUR M. ALLEN, OF VEST vsLoo NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

IPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,781, dated November 18, 1902.

Application filed June 16,1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR IWI. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vest New Brighton, Richmond county, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to improvements in velocipedes with three wheels in line. The middle one is a caster-wheel which, with the one behind it, is arranged in one frame and both used at once to steer. They turn out on'opposite sides, and thereby provide three points (not in line) for support while steering, whereby the vehicle can stand upright alone, is easy to learn, and safe to use.

It also relates to an improved construction of the axle and driving connection of both front and rear wheels by one rider, so that the position of the seat will not vary the road-grip of the wheels.

I attain these results by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the velocipede. Fig. 2 is a plan of the steering-gear. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of back frame at the pivot, showing intermediate pulleys. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on line :n m. Fig. 5 shows variation in position of stud-frame with intermediate pulleys in front frame. n

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This velocipede is directly propelled by the front wheel, which by a flexible connection drives the rear wheel also. The frame supported by this front Wheel and axle has a seat close behind and low enough to obtain an oblique forward tread on the axle-cranks. The steer-post is behind the rider, passing above the frame, bent to one side, and connected by a link to the steer-bar arranged on a pivot on the front frame before the rider. On each side of the front frame is an extension or outside loop about three feet high and eight inches wide to support the journal of a pedal-crank at a point about three inches higher than the axle. The inside end of this crank-pin rests in a roller which travels out and in from and to the center of a slotted crank xed on the axle, and in action is a slow forward and quick return with greater Serial No. 641.060. (No model.)

power on the live-center, and keeps the circular path for the foot. The front axle is double. A tube is fixed in the frame sides. On this tube the front Wheel is mounted, with a cone of gears or belt-grooves on one side and a single one on the other. Inside this tube the driving-axle is mounted, with a crank and gear or pulley xed on one end and a crank on the other. The belt or chain from this pulley passes over two guide-pulleys on studs in a frame near the top of the front frame and down to the groove-cone on the road-wheel. As this belt has to cross to drive forward, another guide-pulley is set half-way up inthe frame. The driving-surfaces of the pulleys are cut into pyramid-points, as shown in my patent of January 29,1895, No. 533,405, whereby a slack belt may have a good hold. Plain journals only are shown here; but rollers or ball-bearings may be used where desired. A screw above the stud-frame adjusts the belt tension or allows it to be changed to another groove in the cone to change the gear of thevelocipede. Forchainsthestud-frame is turned, so that the wheels are parallel to the pulleys below and two chains used, one inside and the other outside of the frame. A shaft and two fixed pulleys are then used instead of two loose pulleys and fixed studs. Two other guide-pulleys are mounted on a stud in the hind frame close under the neck tokeep the belt or chain which connects the front and rear wheels in line while steering. Springs are fixed on the outside of the side loops or frame to protect the pedal-cranks in case of a fall.

In the drawings tube T, with a right and left thread out on its ends, is placed in the hub of wheel W' and between the holes in frame F. Itis then screwed tight bya driftpin` and becomes a part of frame F, with wheel W' mounted on it. (See Fig. 4.) Axle A, with slotted crank C' and pulley P' secured on one end and by bolt B4, is then passed through tube T and slotted crank C2 secured on the other end. (See Fig. 4.) On the side extension G of frame F, about three inches above the axle-center, two other and shorter4 cranks C3 C4 are pivoted by pivots C5 C6 and whose pins X X2 rest in rollers R R2 in the slots in cranks C O2, making a slow forward and quick return. Guide-pulleys P5 l?6 (see IOO Figs. 1 and 4) are mounted on studs S4 in a l frame F4 near the top of frame F, and another Ainclosing middle. Wheel W2.

guide-pulley P7 is mounted on a stud S5 in the frame F between frame F4 and axle A. A belt B', passing over pulleys P5, P6, and P7, connects axle-pulley P' to road-wheel cone P2 and drives. y If gears and chains are used, pulley-frame F4 is arranged as shown in Fig. 5 and two chains used instead of one belt. Above pulley-frame F4 is an adjustable screw X3, which tightens the belt or chains or allows them to be arranged in different diameters of the road-wheel cone to change the gear. The back frame F2 is forked behind to inclose the third Wheel W3 (see Fig. 1) and single in front where the caster-frame F3 is attached, This single part of frame F2 is jointed and has a spring S2 secured to it by bolts B3 to allow for longitudinal unevenness of the road. The frame F2 has a pivot or neck N, (see Fig. 1,) fitted in a sleeve which is iXed in the rear of frame F. This neck N is bent over sidewise and connected to a steering bar or handle H on the frame F' by a link L. The seat' S is arranged on the frame F behind the handle H at such a height as to require an oblique forward tread on the cranks C3 C4. (See Figs.

l and 4.) Belt B2 on wheel-pulley P2 passes over two guide-pulleys P8 Pgand around backwheel-hub pulley P4, thereby propelling the back wheel also. A step Ss (see Fig. 1) assists to reach the seat. Four springs S7'on the corners of frame extensions G serve to protect the cranks C3 C4 from injury by falling. 35

What I claim as new, and am desirous of securing by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wheeled vehicle, two frames, the one with a transverse axle and a steeringhead, and the other with two transverse axles, one behind the other, and a frame-neck to it said steering-head, all in combination with three road-wheels in line and driving and steering gear.

2. In a wheeled vehicle, a front frame, a road-Wheel arranged between and supporting its sides, a pivot in the rear of said frame, a hind frame provided with a neck to iit said pivot, and with bearings for two more roadwheels, one behind the other, and all arranged in line, to provide three points not in line for support of the vehicle, while steering, by turning the neck of the hind frame.

In testimony that I claini the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of May, 1897.

ARTHUR M. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT SCHALKENBACH, JAMES WEIR. 

